Tremaine Edmunds to attend NFL Draft at AT&T StadiumTremaine Edmunds to attend NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium
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Tremaine Edmunds to attend NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium

The National Football League announced on Thursday that Virginia Tech's Tremaine Edmunds has accepted an invitation to the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Edmunds will be joined by Tech head coach Justin Fuente and associate head coach/defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who will also be representing the Hokies. HokieVision and the @VT_Football Twitter feed will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage from the red carpet, plus all the reaction when Edmunds' name is called.

Ranked the No. 1 linebacker in the 2018 Draft class by NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, Edmunds is seeking to become the latest Tech alum to get his name called in the first round. CB Kyle Fuller (14th overall) was the most recent Hokies' first-rounder, going to Chicago in 2014.

Edmunds earned third-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and first-team All-ACC accolades after turning in his second straight 100-tackle campaign for the Hokies in 2017. The Danville, Virginia native finished the season ranked sixth in the ACC with 109 total tackles. His 60 solo tackles ranked fourth in the conference and his 14 tackles for loss tied for second among ACC linebackers and ranked eighth overall in the league.

He led the Hokies in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (3), helped anchor a Virginia Tech defense that paced the Power Five with 21 Red Zone scores allowed and three shutouts, the most in the nation. One of three brothers to play for the Hokies, he earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors following a 10-0 win at Virginia (11/24) and was one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, presented to the nation's top linebacker.

VIRGINIA TECH
ALL-TIME FIRST-ROUND DRAFTEES

Year | Player | Team | Overall Pick
1960 | WR | Carroll Dale | Oakland (AFL) | --
1984 | LB | Mike Johnson | Cleveland | Supplemental
1985 | DE | Bruce Smith | Buffalo | 1
1992 | T | Eugene Chung | New England | 13
1997 | QB | Jim Druckenmiller | San Francisco | 26
2001 | QB | Michael Vick | Atlanta | 1
2004 | CB | DeAngelo Hall | Atlanta | 8
2004 | RB | Kevin Jones | Detroit | 30
2008 | T | Duane Brown | Houston | 26
2012 | RB | David Wilson | N.Y. Giants | 32
2014 | CB | Kyle Fuller | Chicago | 14

Here's a look at what some of the draft analysts have been saying about Edmunds and his potential landing spots.

NFL.com – No. 1 overall linebacker

– Mike Mayock
bit.ly/LB1-NFL

As more teams opt for a hybrid defense, outside linebackers with pass-rush skills are becoming hot commodities in the NFL scouting community. Edmunds is an avatar on the edge as a long, rangy disruptor with explosive quickness and hand skills to wreak havoc.
– Bucky Brooks
on.nfl.com/XVFY7y

NFL.com – No. 3 overall prospect
Edmunds has a unique blend of size, length and athleticism. He primarily lines up off the line of scrimmage, but does get some work rushing off the edge. Against the run, he is quick to key, fill and finish as a tackler. He has rare lateral range and collects tackles from sideline to sideline. The former Hokie flashes the ability to shoot his hands and play off blocks, but this is one area where he can improve. Against the pass, he easily mirrors running backs and tight ends; there are even examples of him matching up and redirecting vs. slot receivers. He offers tremendous upside as an edge rusher, where he can dip/rip and bend around the edge. Overall, Edmunds has All-Pro ability. His upside is outrageous.
– Daniel Jeremiah
bit.ly/3-NFL

Sporting News – No. 8 Chicago Bears
Chicago has found success through free agency on its defense, but it's time to find high-end, young defensive talent through the draft. Edmunds is a special talent and one of the few off-ball linebackers who deserve to be drafted in the top half of Round 1.
– Eric Galko
bit.ly/8-Maine

CBSsports.com – No. 9 San Francisco 49ers
He could play the "Leo" pass-rushing spot in their scheme.
– Pete Prisco
cbsprt.co/2EtYM97

NFL.com – No. 9 San Francisco 49ers
Edmunds is one of my favorite players in the draft. He has a rare blend of size, speed and athleticism. He would be a perfect complement to Reuben Foster at the second level of the 49ers' defense.
– Daniel Jeremiah
bit.ly/Maine49ers

USA Today – No. 10 Oakland Raiders
NaVorro Bowman was a hugely stabilizing force to the Oakland run defense after switching Bay Area addresses midway through the 2017 season. But he's about to turn 30 and re-signing him is an obvious risk given his injury history. Edmunds might just project as a younger — and possibly better — version of Bowman as an every-down backer who can swallow running backs in the run and pass games, has the range to cover downfield and can also boost the pass rush if asked.
– Nate Davis
usat.ly/2EMf5iL

SB Nation – No. 14 Green Bay Packers
The Packers clearly need a pass rusher this offseason, and there are some intriguing options in the draft. Players like Arden Key of LSU or Harold Landry of Boston College may seem like more natural fits, but Edmunds has fewer questions off the field.
– Dan Kadar
bit.ly/Maine14